As residents factor higher energy costs into their budgets, Howard County is expecting to pay an extra $1.6 million for its diesel fuel and gasoline in the upcoming year.
Howard County Executive James Robey included this amount in his fiscal 2007 operating budget that will be presented to the County Council at 7 p.m. Monday in the George Howard Building on Court House Drive in Ellicott City.
The entire proposed spending plan for operations, which are the day-to-day work of county government, including schools, police and public works, was not available.
The fiscal year will begin July 1, 2006, and end June 30, 2007.
The County Council can only make reductions to the county executive?s proposed budget.
Last year?s operating budget totaled more than $1 billion, which was a 10.5 percent increase over the fiscal 2005 budget.
Robey?s proposed capital budget was released late March with a public hearing on it to begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The capital budget includes funding for long-term construction and renovation.
His fiscal 2007 capital budget is $336.6 million, a little more than $94 million higher than last year. The largest increase in this proposal was for water and sewer, which saw a spike of more than $51 million.
Budget schedule
7 p.m. April 27
Public hearing on proposed capital and operating budgets
7:30 p.m. April 27
Public hearing on proposed operating budget
Noon May 24
County council to vote on both budgets and set the tax rate
All meetings are at the George Howard Building on Court House Drive in Ellicott City.
